FCC extends net neutrality comment period

Website problems brought on by a spike in responses spurs the agency to move the deadline to Friday.

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By JIM PUZZANGHERA

capecodtimes.com

By JIM PUZZANGHERA

Posted Jul. 16, 2014 at 2:00 AM

By JIM PUZZANGHERA
Posted Jul. 16, 2014 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission extended Tuesday's deadline for public comments on its proposed net neutrality rules until Friday after a last-minute surge in submissions overwhelmed the agency's website.

The FCC had received about 677,000 comments as of Monday, with about 207,000 coming through its electronic comment system, said spokeswoman Kim Hart.

The pace of filing accelerated ahead of the midnight Eastern time deadline Tuesday and many people have been unable to access the site, she said.

"Not surprisingly, we have seen an overwhelming surge in traffic on our website that is making it difficult for many people to file comments through our Electronic Comment Filing System," Hart said. "Accordingly, we are extending the comment deadline until midnight Friday, July 18."

Consumer groups and online activists have complained that the rules are too weak to prevent broadband service providers from interfering with content flowing through their networks, and have encouraged average Americans to contact the FCC to urge tougher regulation to ensure net neutrality.

Expecting an outpouring of comments, the FCC set up an alternative system in April that allows people to submit their views via email, to openinternetfcc.gov.

As of Monday, the FCC had received about 470,000 email comments, Hart said.

The agency information technology team on June 3 also added additional capacity to the online comment system, David A. Bray, the FCC's chief information officer, said in a blog post Monday.

"The number of people submitting comments is impressive, underscoring the importance of this issue and the critical role public engagement plays in the commission's policy-making process," Bray said.

After Friday's deadline, the public will have until Sept. 10 to reply to comments made during the first round of public input.